Canoe Wales - Canw Cymru

Access Officer: Vacant - Contact National Access Development Officer
Ashley Charlwood
c/o Canolfan Tryweryn, Frongoch, Bala LL2 3 7NU
Tel. 01341 422692 Mobile 07817 761125 Email: Cwmbychan@aol.com

Map:	124 Dolgellau 135 Aberystwyth
Grade:	IV
Length:	13 km
Access:	A487(T) Dolgellau - Machynlleth road
Notes:	possible portage in low water
Quality:

Driving south to north on the A487, turn off to the village of Corris and continue driving up the small road to Aberllefenni. On the way, stop off to have a look at the falls below a small bridge, about one kilometre downstream of Aberllefenni. On our last run down the river (October ’97) a tree was partially blocking the bridge arches. This could prove very dangerous in high flood. Even if clear, the stopper below the drop needs definite respect!

Access to the river is at the small bridge GR778104 to Llwydiarth Hall and is next to a telephone box. The river is fast but easy until a sequence of three to four falls (depending on your definition of ‘fall’) is reached. Rhaeadr y Pwll Du, or ‘The Falls of the Black Pool’ are a committing class IV to IV+. The third fall and biggest drop, in particular, is much easier at higher flows and it is sobering to think that, at low flows, the bottom squeeze is less in width than that of a boat! The water eases off to an easy flow with occasional class III falls, but care has to be taken because of a few dangerous wires across the stream. About one kilometre below the slate mines of Aberllefenni are the aforementioned falls / weir which needs caution.

As the paddler approaches Esgairgeiliog heralded by a caravan site river left, a class III to IV rapid is reached just above the road bridge GR755061. An awkward boulder has a route that has caused one or two experienced paddlers to briefly tickle trout! Egress left if you’ve had enough.

Below the bridge in Esgairgeiliog is a small weir with a surprisingly strong stopper. As the river begins to gorge up a little way below there is a major class VI fall that nearly all will portage. This is immediately below a rock island. Although this has been shot at high water a low water inspection of the sumps will put off most. Portage with care on river right. An excellent but easy gorge follows. Just before the stone bridge leading to The Centre for Alternative Technology is a large, but partially broken, weir GR768091. Inspect, but this can be shot down the large wave on the right in most flows (if you look at this in low flows it shows a left sided sump!). A few more good rapids follow before egress downstream river left of the bridge at Glan Fechan. Beware though, as strung below the bridge, was a dubiously placed barbed wire strand the last time I paddled this GR752024.